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Jamaica. You can barely utter the word without hearing the soothing sounds of Bob Marley in your ears and thinking of vibrant greens, yellows and reds. It’s a name so full of flavour you can almost taste it.
And taste it I did! The Jamaicans know how to nail food and drink and I happily ate myself into a food coma countless times on a recent trip.
If you’re vegetarian, rejoice! The (vege) dishes are fantastic and abundant with sweet potatoes, yams and yucca root. If you’re a meat eater, ask for a plate of jerk chicken, you won’t regret it.
It’s full of the goodness of allspice, cayenne pepper and thyme. Wash your food down with a ‘‘hummingbird’’, a delicious mix of rum cream, coffee liqueur, milk and strawberry syrup with crushed ice.
These drinks may or may not have helped with my dance steps. My resort (Couples Tower Isle) offered free dance lessons and, after a few hummingbirds, I felt like Ginger Rogers dancing to Carlos Santana!
Delicious food and drinks aside, Jamaica knows how to do beautiful scenery.
A top pick from me: Dunn’s River Falls – the Caribbean’s most amazing waterfall. Drive 10 minutes west of Ocho Rios along Main Street to the falls. The best time to visit is Saturday or Sunday. Most cruise ships come here on week days, so the falls are often busy with the cruise visitors.
Debrah Cargill, Flight Centre Kaitaia Q. I like the idea of travelling to Myanmar. Where are the best places to stay and is it easy to travel around there?
A. Tourism is relatively new to Myanmar, which has been isolated for many years, so now is a great time to book and explore this destination which still retains the aura of a bygone era.
To travel there from New Zealand you’ll probably need a connecting flight from Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur to the largest city, Yangon. Travel during the dry season from November to May.
An organised tour will ensure you capture all the must-sees.
The temples and gentle Buddhist culture are key highlights of Myanmar. The temple-filled plains of Bagan are a must. On the banks of the Ayeyarwady River, the plains contain more than 4400 temples, pagodas and stupas (burial mounds). Inle Lake is home to amazing stilt villages and floating farms.
A stay in Mandalay is recommended. I suggest a boat ride to Mingun Bell and the beautiful white Myatheindan pagoda.
For a relaxing finish to your Myanmar holiday, head to unspoilt, palm-fringed Ngapali Beach on the Bay of Bengal.
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